Bread wrapping machine



Oct. 18, 1938. 1.. FERENCI BREAD WRAPPING MACHINE Filed May 5, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet l III/III! INVENTOR A ORNEY L. FERENCI 2,133,503

BREAD WRAPPING MACHINE Filed May 5. 1954 4 sheets-sheet 2 Oct. 18, 1938.

6; @QE 0 0K QQC Oct. 18, 1938. 1.. FERENCI BREAD WRAPPING MACHINE Filed May 5, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet Z5 Oct. 18, 1938.

L. FERENCI BREAD WRAPPING MACHINE Filed May 5, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 18, 1938 T d d I I it 2,133,503

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BREAD WRAPPING MACHINE Lester Ferenci, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Ameriean Machine & Foundry Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application May 5, 1934, Serial No. 724,151 48 Claims. (Cl. 93-2) This invention relates to wrapping machines machine for diflerent widths of loaves or articles and more particularly to bread wrapping maby so connecting the side guide plates on a movchines f the general type disclosed in my prior ing lifter table with the side guide plates on a Patent No. 2,082,945, issued June 8, 1937. stationary feedway of the machine, that adjust- One of the principal objects of the invention ment of one set of plates will automatically ad- 5 is to provide means whereby adjustable tension just the other set of plates, without interfering can be applied to the wrapper as the wrapper with the up and down movement of the litter is applied to the article or loaf, permitting the table. Other objects are to provide means for selection of a loosely or tightly wrapped package preventing over-running of the feed roll and to or some intermediate tightness thereof. provide a simple and eiiflcient means for taking 10 Another' object of the invention is to improve care of crumbs. the action and construction of the rod which lays With es d Other Objects not pec a y or drapes the wrapper along one side of the article mentioned in view, the invention consists in cerand to some extent determines the tightness of tain constructions and combinations which will the wrapper. To this end, this rod is mounted be hereinafter fully described and then particu- 15 for free floating movement in vertical direction larly po out in the claims hereunto pp and rests by gravity on the portion of the wrap- In the accompanying d aw s which form a per on which it is intended to act. Thus the part of this specification and in which like charwrapping tension produced by this rod may be acters of reference indicate the same or like all varied by simply changing its weight. Also by p ts: limiting the lower movement of the rod at dif- Fig- 1 is a Side elevation, P y in e ferent points, it is possible to secure an adjust- Showing t progress f a leaf of bread from ment for loaves of different height, with the obthe intake conveyor onto a lifter and raised to ject of having the wrapper draped under tension the level of the slicer, t p d O to a Seezs as low along the side'of the loaf as possible when nd fte and ra ed to the delivery level; rear side tucks are being made. For the purpose 2 s a Sectional nd elevation, partly in of simplifying the rod operating means, as stated, section from the right of Fi the rod is operated by gravity, instead of by link- Figs- 3 to 7 inclusive are detail views in side age from a cam as formerly, and the movement elevati n showing the progressive sta s of a of the rod at the upper limit of its motion where 1081f pp in the machine Shown in F g- 30 it is desired to positively actuate the same, is Fig. 8 shows a large scale side view of the fricproduced by a projecting portion carried by the tlOn ev f t tension p lifter table, Fig. 9 is a cross-section on line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Another object of the invention is to produce Fig- 0 s an rged detail side view of brak- 5 improved clamping and tensioning structure con- 8 de e f the w p materiel reel. S ow trolling the last folded end of the wrapper. To in F this end aclamp for holding this end of the wrap- Fig- 11 iS a end View Of the Parts Shown i per stationary during part of the wrapping op- F g. 10; eration is controlled by the draping or lapping Fig. 12 is a detail sectional side view showin rod above referred to, as actuated by the lifter the lifter with a partially enfolded loaf at the 40 table. delivery level, showing tight and loose wrap Another object of the invention is to prevent mechanism, positioned to produce a tightly slippage of the wrapper between the back tenwrapped package; I, sion plate and the article fed against the wrap- Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 12, showing per and tension plate to produce a uniform lap the tensioning device in non-operative position in 45 on the under side of the package and to make order to produce a "loosely wrapped package; the resistance of this tension plate variable to Fig. 14 is a plan view of Fig. 13; fit varying conditions. Fig. 15 is a detail view in section on line i5|5 Another object is to seal the overlapping porof Fig. 14, showing an electric heating cartridge tions of the wrapper while the wrapper is still mounted under the front end of the delivery 50 under tension after being wrapped around the table; article, without relying on the mere friction of Fig. 16 is a detail view in end elevation of a the wrapper as it is pushed along a table, to rebraking device for the roller which clamps the tain said tension. end of the wrapper material; Still another object is to simplify adjusting the Fig. 17 is an enlarged detail in side view (partly 55 or passed whole across and Ill.

in section) showing some operating parts of wrapper material feed;

Fig. 18 is a sectional side view showing additional parts of the feed shown in Fig. 17;

Fig. 19 is a sectional side view (from the opposite side to that shown in Fig. 17), of the wrapper'feed shown; a

Fig. 20 is a sectional side view of a detail of Fig. 19 showing the feed rollers in released pol l t iile the invention is shown in conjunction with the machine illustrated in my prior patent referred to above it will be understood that its usefulness is not limited to such machines, as it may be applied to other types of wrapping machines.

Referring to the drawings, Figs. 1 and 2, a loaf L is shown on the feed conveyor table 33 about to be transferred to a lifter table 51 and raised by lifter 53 to the level of the transfer or slicer table 33.

As the top loaf is transferred to lifter table 51 the ends of the loaf enter 351 and 352. These guide plates are each attached to two rods 353 and 354 which are slidably mounted in guide brackets 355 and 356 respectively. As the lifter 53 raises the loaf L on plate 51 to the level of table 63 the guide plates 35I and 352, which rest on table 51 through rollers 351 between guide plates and 355, move up with the lifter, causing rods 353 and 354 to slide up through bearings in brackets 355 and 356, thus holding the loaf L securely while in transit. Brackets 355 and 356 are attached to bars 266 which also carry end guides .223 on the delivery level and when these guides are being adjusted, to suit the length of loaf L, guide plates 35l and 352 are automatically set to the proper spacing on lifter table 51. A small independent adjustment to the guide plates 35| and 352 can be made, if necessary, by shifting the plates, in or out, on rods 353 and 354.

When the loaf has been pushed oil the lifter table 51 and the lifter moves down to the intake conveyor level, the end guides 35l and 352 with rods 353 and 354 follow the lifter by gravity or, if desirable, springs (not shown) may be attach to the rods, inside of brackets 355 and 353; assist the downward movement.

As the loaf is being pushed off the lifter table 51 it enters between and guides 64 and as it is pushed across transfer table 33 it may be sliced onto a second lifter When the loaf enters the lifter with it the wrapper material W, one end of which has been brought down by lifter I63, as indicated in Fig. 4, thus starting the wrapping operation as shown in Fig. 5.

It will be noted that the floating rod 3| 3 begins to function at thisstage by holding back on the wrapper W while the loaf L advances. The lifter I 03 is now ready to move up to the delivery level, and, while in transit, the wrapper W acted upon by floating rod M3 is draped down over the top of the loaf L as indicated in Fig. 6. The wrapper W is thus subjected to the weight of floating rod 3I3, thereby keeping the wrapper tight while it is being enfolded about the loaf.

Just before the lifter reaches the delivery level, lugs 16a on the lifter contact with floating rod 3l3 and carry it along. Rod 3l3 in turn contacts with the forked ends 3 Ha of a plurality of clampl 63 it carries ing-levers in each of which is journaled a clamping roller 315, whereby the rollers 3| 5 are lifted and the free end of the wrapper W is released operative position wherein the from the grip of rollers 3I5 and 3l6, as shown in Fig. '7.

The loaf, not yet completely wrapped, is now in a position to be pushed onto the delivery table 22l where the wrapping is completed after the lifter l 08 has been lowered sufficiently for tension plate 3I2 to clear pusher 223. When the pusher halts in the position shown in Fig. 3, the lifter I06, which has previously raised the loaf to the position indicated by dotted lines, descends to resume its position at the level of transfer table 63 ready to receive the next loaf, as shown in Fig. 1 and indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3.

If it is not desired to have the loaf wrapped the pusher 223 proceeds to move the loaf along, thus finishing the wrapping operation with only the drag due to friction of the free end of the wrapper as the loaf is being pushed over the delivery table 22L If a tighter wrapped package is preferred a special drag device can be put into action, as shown in Fig. 12, by setting quadrant 341 so as to obtain the desired pressure of drag levers 342, by means of leaf springs 343 bearing on pins 342b thereof, against the drag rollers 344. As the wrapper W passes between drag levers 342 and rollers 344 it will be subjected to this drag during the last stage of the wrapping operation after rollers 315 and 316 have released their grip. Thus the amount of pressure exerted by the springs 343 can be adjusted by setting the quadrant. When this final tight wrapping operation is not desired the quadrant may be set, as shown in Fig. 13, to maintain the drag levers in non- "tightly" against pins 342a on drag levers them away from rollers 344.

When using heat sealable regenerated cellulose as wrapping material it is desirable to apply heat in order to seal the overlapped wrapper edges forming the bottom seam as the package enters the delivery table 221 (see Fig. 3). This feature of sealing the bottom seam insures that the outer edge of the regenerated cellulose will not be pulled away from the loaf while it is being pushed along the delivery table. For this purpose a cartridge type electric heater H is mounted under the front end of the delivery table as shown in Figs. 14 and 15. The tension plate 312 is slidably mounted on the lifter I66 and its movement is controlled by friction so that the push of the oncoming loaf L I makes it recede, yet producing enough resistance to securely grip the wrapper W while the loaf enters between the tuckers 203 and the first end folds are being made (see Fig. 5). The wrapper is thus held while it is being drawn over the top of the loaf and the side remote from the tension plate, as illustrated in Fig. 5. As the lifter brings the loaf up to the delivery level the top end flaps of the wrapper are folded down over the end of the loaf by stationary folders (not shown), and as it is pushed along the delivery table the front and bottom end flaps are folded over the end of the loaf. as disclosed in my co-pending patent application previously mentioned. Fig. 7 indicates the step of folding the top end flaps but the folder structure for this operation and the subsequent folding operations are not shown since they are disclosed in the above mentioned application.

The tension plate 3I2 has, on its face, several horizontal grooves 3l2a which assure a secure grip on the wrapper and the loaf while it is in transit up to the level of the delivery table. The movement of the tension plate maybe controlled 2,1ss,oos

by a'frlction device. One object of the friction device is to avoid any spring means for returning the tension plate, and to leave this function entirely to the motion of the pushers which push the loaf onto and on the lifter I08.

The friction device, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, consists of a tension plate carrier 32I mounted in ways of the guide rails 322, a bolt 323, two friction washers 324a and 3241;, one on each side of a stationary slotted drag strip 325 carried by the lifter, the coil spring 326 being interposed between top friction washer 324a and adjusting The brake consists of a clamp having hinged jaws 33Ia and "lb, the jaw 33Ia carrying a leaf spring 332 which abuts on a stud 333 set into the frame F of the machine. The inner faces of the clamp jaws are provided with a suitable brake lining 334, and the proper friction is obtained by tightening screw 335 and thus compressing spring 336 to produce the required pressure on the reel shaft.

When the reel R starts to rotate, as the material W is being fed-off", the brake clamp will turn with the reel causing the spring 336 to deflect until its resistance is suflicient to overcome the friction of the brake on the reel shaft, and

as the feed stops the springs 336 will tend to resume its original shape and in doing so it will rotate the reel R, in opposite direction to the feed, sufficiently to recover any slack that may have been caused by the inertia of the rotating reel.

The wrapper material W is fed from the reel R over the feed roller I20 mounted on shaft I22 in brackets I23 attached to side frames 20 and 2| as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Gear I60 on shaft I22, Fig. 19, engages gear I53 on shaft I50 on which are also mounted feed traction rollers I2I. On the opposite end of shaft I22 is a gear I21, Fig. 17, engaging gear I28 which is mounted on the hub of gear I3I which is free to turn on shaft I23. Gear I3I is actuated by a rocking gear segment I32 which is pivoted on stud I33. Segment I32 has an arm I34 which, through rod I35, isconnected with lever I36, on shaft I31 in bearings on side frames 20 and 2I.

Lever I33, attached to shaft I31, is connected through rod I40 to the main drive mechanism of the machine which operates as disclosed in my prior patent previously referred to.

As the drive mechanism pulls rod I40 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 17, it imparts, through the connections just described, a swinging motion to arm I34 and segment I32, which, in turn, causes gear I3I to rotate on shaft '29. j

The hub of gears I3I and I28 are designed to constitute a one-way" clutch of the well known jam roller construction, so that gear I 3| can impart rotation to gear I28 in one direction only; thus, while segment I32 swings in the direction as indicated by arrow, Fig. 17, gear I3I will rotate gear I28, but on the reverse swing of segment I32 the clutch will release gear I3I from gear I28 and gear I3I will rotate free on shaft I23, and will impart no motion to gear I28, until segment I32 has again reversed its direction of motion.

The feeding of wrapper material W is therefore accomplished while segment I32 swings in the direction indicated by arrow in Fig. 17 and rotates gear I3I which, through one-way clutch, is locked to gear I28. Gear I28 engages gear I21 on shaft I22 and gear I60 on the other end of shaft I22, Fig. 19, engages gear I53 on shaft I53 which also carries feed rollers I2I. For each swing of segment I32, in the direction just described, the feed rollers I2I are made to rotate and as the wrapper web W has been passed between roller I20 and feed rollers I2I an amount of wrapper web is fed off the reel R for each one-way swing of segment I32. The web W. as it is pushed along horizontally enters the guide channel formed by a shelf I08b on lifter I03, which is then in a position as indicated in Fig. 3, and passes over rollers 3I6. When a predetermined amount of web has been advanced it is cut off and, as the lifter I08 starts down, roller 3I5 drops and pinches or clamps the web against roller 3I6, thus holding the forward end of the web securely while the lifter carries the remainder of the web down with it and spreads it ready to receive the oncoming loaf L as indicated in Fig. 4.

In order to prevent over-travel of the wrapper feed mechanism, shown in Fig. 17, after segment I32 has completed the necessary feeding motion, a brake shoe 36Ia on brake lever 36I is brought to contact with the feed roller I20, thus holding the feed mechanism between the reel R and the gear I3I stationary, until segment I 32 has started on its reverse swing. ,fI'he brake lever 36I, pivotally mounted on shaft I64, is operated by rod 362, the lower end of which is connected to lever I36 at I360 and the upper end passing freely through the end 36Ib of lever 36I until the swing of lever I36 has been almost completed and the space between spring 36% and the adjustable lock-nuts 362a has been taken up. The spring 36% will then bring the necessary pressure to bear on brake lever 36I to hold feed roller I20 immovable.

\ As safeguard against any motion to disturb the feed mechanism in the opposite direction to the feed, when segment I32 reverses its direction of swing, an arcuate anti-backing wedge 363, Fig. 18, pivotally mounted on shaft I64 and held against feed roller I20 by spring 364, is in a position to jam against the roller and instantly check any attempt of roller I20 to rotate in a direction opposite to the feed.

The shaft I58 with feed rollers I2I is mounted in brackets I6I which are pivoted on shaft I23, as shown in Figs. 19 and 20. If lever I65, on shaft I64 is thrown over, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 19, cams I63 are brought to bear on extensions I62 of brackets I6I causing rollers I2I on shaft I58 to be swung away from contact on roller I20. This arrangement is provided for convenience in threading the web through the machine and is also useful in stopping the feed of wrapper web W, if desired, without shutting off the drive mechanism.

A rod 365 which is hooked ontoshaft I64 and passes through bracket extension I62 and a spring 366, is interposed between extension I62 and nuts 361 and permits of adjusting the pressure on the wrapper web W between feed rollers I2I and roller I20.

In order to prevent roller 3I6 from overrunning, thereby reducing the amount of tension on the wrapper and also to regulate this tension to that found most satisfactory for the use to which the machine is being put and in accordance with whether a tight or loose wrap is desired, a friction device has been introduced which consists of roller sleeve 3i6, as shown in Fig. 16, mounted 5 on shaft 3| 6a, which is held in side frames 20 and 2|, being secured from rotation in side frame 20. A spring 3l6b interposed between sleeve 3l6c and adjusting nut 3l6d exerts pressure between non-rotating sleeve 3I6c and friction bushing 10 3l6e at one end of roller 3l6. Friction bushing 3|6f, at the other end of roller 3i6, bears against collar 3|6g on shaft 3l6a.

By adjusting nut 3I6d, a suitable pressure can be produced by spring 3|6b to keep roller 3H5 from rotating except as the wrapper web W is being dragged out of the grip between rollers 316 and M5 by the pull on the web as the loaf is pushed into it, and this pull can be made greater or less as desired.

A trough 368, Figs. 1 and 2, is positioned under the intake or feed conveyor for the purpose of supporting the chains and pushers and it also serves the purpose of catching any crumbs that may drop from the loaves as they are being conveyed in on top of conveyor table 39. The pusher bars 41 will sweep them along the trough 368 and at the end of the trough they may be collected in a suitable receptacle.

The loaves lifted-by the lifter table 51 to the level of the runway 83 are pushed off the table 51 by a pusher 310. This pusher has a suitable guide portion forming the shank of the pusher 310 which slides on rails 312. The guide portion carries a rearwardly extending rack 313 which 33 engages an oscillating gear 314 on a shaft 315. The pusher 310 is suitably slotted to admit slicer blades when used in conjunction with slicer mechanism and has a stroke sufficient to carry the leaves across the runway 83 and onto the a lifter table I08 serving to push the loaf into the wrapper W (Figs. 4 and 5), and against the back tension plate 3I2.

While the invention has been described for illustrative purposes in connection with the bread 5 wrapping machine disclosed in my patent prevlously identified, the invention is not to be taken as being limited to bread wrapping since it may be used to wrap cartons and other articles nor are many of the features to which the invention relates limited to wrapping in waxed paper or paper only, since it is contemplated that the invention may be used in connection with regenerated cellulose and other wrapping materials. It is also to be understood that a number of the improvements described can be employed alone or in widely different types of wrapping ma chines and are not limited to use in the type of wrapping machine and the particular combinations selected for illustration. Thus the apparatus employed in carrying the invention into effect may be widely varied in construction within the scope of the claims for the specific structures selected to illustrate the invention are but certain of many possible embodiments of the '5 same. The invention therefore is not restricted to the details illustrated and described nor to the particular embodiments chosen as illustrative of the invention.

The operation of the machine illustrated has 79 already been described in connection with the description of its parts, but for greater clearness it is reviewed and in certain respects amplified below.

As previously noted, the loaf L is pushed into II the wrapper W (Figs. 1. 4 and 5), and against the back tension plate 3l2 so that the wrapper is clamped between the plate and the loaf. The portion of the wrapper depending below the tension plate at this moment determines the position of the lapping edge of this end of the wrapper and so affects the appearance of the package. For the purpose of obtaining a uniform position of this lapping end, it is important that there may be no slip between the loaf and the tension plate of the wrapper and for preventing this the tension plate is grooved to provide a serrated or ribbed surface. Also the resistance of the tension plate is regulated by friction brake means as already described, controlling the pressure between the plate and the loaf which must be less than that which would collapse soft loaves but may be made greater with firm loaves and particularly cartons and other sturdier objects which are to be wrapped.

As the article to be wrapped is carried on to the lifter table the surplus material necessary to enwrap the article will be dragged from be-- tween the rollers M5 and M6 and the force needed to drag this material out is regulated by the brake 3i6c operating on the roller 3l6. These rollers may of course be solid rods and not necessarily round rods, the object of using rollers being merely to avoid accumulations of wax, when waxed paper is used, at one point. After the wrapper has been folded around the bottom, rear (or left hand side as shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 5). and part of the top side, the front side and the remainder of the top side has the wrapper draped around it under the influence of the rod 3l3 which rests by gravity on the portion of the wrapper between the clamp rollers M5 and 3| 6 and the side of the article so that the roller forms a loop in the wrapping material, as shown in Fig. 6. One of the advantages of this arrangement is that a predetermined constant tension is placed upon the wrapper during its draping action down along the front side of the article determined by the weight of the rod 3|3 which weight may be easily changed by merely substituting a rod of a different weight. This arrangement also simplifies the machine for the reason that no line of linkage to an operating cam is needed for operating said rod. Similarly the machine is considerably simplified by utilizing a projection on the lifter table acting through this rod to lift the clamp roller 3!!) as a result of the motion already present of the lifter table without the addition of operating linkage.

The inter-action of the clamp roller M5 and the rod 3l3 provides a desirable equalized tension on this end of the wrapper. Near the end of the upper movement of the article but before the rod is engaged by the projection i080. on the lifter table the rod is pulled by the wrapper web tension into engagement with the lever 3 thus momentarily lifting clamp roller M5. The moment this clamp roller is released some of the wrapper is withdrawn permitting dropping of the rod 3l3, again placing tension on the wrapper so that at no time is the tension released until the wrapper end is in the range of action of the clamping or tensioning parts 342 and 344.

It is an advantage, well understood in the wrapping art to have one fold as nearly completed as possible before another fold is made since production of the second fold tends to disturb the first. For this reason it is desirable that the rod 313 be permitted to hold the wrapper as low alongside the loaf, that is, as nearly coma drag on the free end of the wrapper while the pletely folded about the loa! as possible, at the time the tucker 208 breaks in the wrapper end told as shown in Fig. 5. For this reason the guides Illa having the vertical slots 3b in which the ends of the rod M3 is mounted for floating gravity movement are provided with graduated holes Site, in which a pin 3l3d can be adjustably positioned to limit the movement of the rod to a 1 lower position under which the highest loaf to be wrapped may pass.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a delivery table, of a vertically reciprocable lifter movable up to and down from the level of said table, a guide on said litter adapted to support a wrapper, a yielding tension plate slidably mounted on said lifter, a pair of spaced tuckers on said lifter, stationary rollers beneath said table, clamp levers provided with clamping rollers coacting with said stationary rollers to clamp the end of a wrapper projecting from said guide, whereby the wrapper is partially withdrawn from said guide during the descent of said lifter so that an article may be pushed, with the portion of the wrapper thus withdrawn, between said tuckers and against said tension plate to partially enfold the article in the wrapper, a floating rod arranged to bear down on the wrapper adjacent its clamped endand thus drape the wrapper down over the article during the ascent of said lifter, vertical guides for said rods, lugs on said lifter adapted to raise said rod against said clamp levers to lift them from said stationary rollers during the ascent of said lifter, a reciprocable pusher arranged to push said tension plate to deliver the partially enfolded article to said table and cause the free end of its wrapper to be wiped under the bottom of the article, drag rollers on said lifter above said guide, drag levers adjacent said table, an adjustable quadrant, and leaf springs carried by said quadrant and urging said drag levers against said drag rollers to exert a drag on the free end of the wrapper while the partially eniolded article is being delivered to said table, whereby the wrapper is tightly enfolded about the girth of the article.

2. The combination with a delivery table, of a vertically reciprocable lifter movable up to and down from the level of said table, a guide on said lifter adapted to support a wrapper, a yielding tension plate slidably mounted on said lifter, a pair of spaced tuckers on said lifter, stationary rollers beneath said table, clamp levers provided with clamping rollers co-acting with said stationary rollers to clamp the end of a wrapper projecting from said guide, whereby the wrapper is partially withdrawn from said guide during the descent of said lifter so that an article may be pushed, with the portion of the wrapper thus withdrawn, between said tuckers and against said tension plate to partially enfold the article in the wrapper, a floating rod arranged to bear down on the wrapper adjacent its clamped end and thus drape the wrapper down over the article during the ascent of said lifter, vertical guides for said rod, lugs on said lifter adapted to raise said rod against said clamp levers to lift them from said stationary rollers during the ascent of said lifter,

a reciprocable pusher arranged to push said tension plate to deliver the partially enfolded article to said table and cause the free end of its wrapper to be wiped under the bottom of the article, drag rollers on said litter above said guide, drag levers adjacent said table, an adjustable quadrant, and leaf springs carried by said quadrant and urging said drag levers against said drag rollers to exert nut and partially enfolded article is being delivered to said table whereby the wrapper is "tightly" eni'olded about the girth of the article, said litter being provided with guide rails and a stationary slotted drag strip, and said tension plate being provided with a carrier slidably mounted in said rails, a friction washer mounted on said bolt and bearing against one side of said strip, a nut threaded on said bolt, and a spring interposed between said nut and washer.

3. The combination with a delivery table, of a vertically reciprocable lifter movable up to and down from the level of said table, a guide on said lifter adapted to support a wrapper, a yielding tension plate slidably mounted on said litter, a pair of spaced tuckers on said lifter, stationary rollers beneath said table, clamp levers provided with clamping rollers coacting with said stationary rollers to clamp the end of a wrapper projecting from said guide, whereby the wrapper is partially withdrawn from said guide during the descent of said litter so that an article may be pushed with the portion of the wrapper thus withdrawn between said tuckers and against said tension plate to partially eniold the article in the wrapper, a floating rod arranged to bear down on the wrapper adjacent its clamped end and thus drape the wrapper down over the article during the ascent of said lifter, vertical guides for said rod. lugs on said lifter adapted to raise said rod against said clamp levers to lift said clamping rollers during the ascent of said lifter, a reciprocable pusher arranged to push said tension pl ate to deliver the partially enfolded article to said table and cause the free end of the wrapper to be wiped under the bottom of the article, whereby the wrapper is loosely enfolded about the girth of the article.

4. The combination with a delivery table, of a vertically reciprocable lifter movable up to and lifter adapted to support a wrapper, a yielding tension plate slidably mounted on said lifter, a pair of spaced tuckers on said lifter, stationary rollers beneath said table, clamp levers provided with clamping rollers coacting with said stationary rollers to clamp the end of a wrapper projecting from said guide, whereby the wrapper is partially withdrawn from said guide during the descent of said lifter so that an article may be pushed with the portion of the wrapper thus withdrawn between said tuckers and against said tension plate to partially eniold the article in the wrapper, a floating rod arranged to bear down on the wrapper adjacent its clamped end and thus drape the wrapper down over the article during the ascent of said litter, vertical guides for said rod, lugs on said lifter adapted to raise said rod against said clamp levers to lift said clamping rollers during the ascent of said litter, a reciprocable pusher arranged to push said tension plate to deliver the partially enfolded article to said table and cause the free end of the wrapper I to be wiped under the bottom of the article, whereby the wrapper is "loosely enfolded about the girth of the article, said lifter being provided with guide rails and a stationary slotted drag strip, and said tension plate being provided with a carrier slidably mounted in said rails, a bolt on said carrier fitted into the slot of said strip, a friction washer mounted on said bolt and bearing against one side of said strip, a nut threaded on said bolt, and a spring interposed between said washer.

5. The combination with a vertically reciprocable lifter, of a guide on said lifter adpated to support a wrapper, a yielding tension plate slidably mounted on said lifter, stationary rollers adjacent theupper position of said lifter, levers provided with clamping rollers coacting with said stationary rollers to clamp the end of a wrapper projecting from said guide, whereby the wrapper is partially withdrawn from said guide during the descent of said lifter so that an article may be pushed, with the portion of the wrapper thus withdrawn, against said tension plate to partially enfold the article in the wrapper, a floating rod arranged to bear down on the wrapper adjacent its clamped end and thus drape the wrapper down over the article during the ascent of said lifter, vertical guides for said rod, lugs on said lifter adapted to raise said rod against said clamp levers to lift said clamping rollers from said stationary rollers during the ascent of said lifter, drag rollers on said lifter above said guide, drag levers adjacent the upper position of said lifter, an adjustable quadrant,

and leaf springs carried by said quadrant and urging said drag levers against said drag rollers to exert a drag on the free end of the wrapper as it is drawn between said drag rollers and drag levers.

6. The combination with a vertically reciprocable lifter, of a guide on said lifter adapted to support a wrapper, a yielding tension plate slidably mounted on said lifter, stationary rollers adjacent the upper position of said lifter, levers provided with clamping rollers coacting with said stationary rollers to clamp the end of a wrapper projecting from said guide, whereby the wrapper is partially withdrawn from said guide during the descent of said lifter so that an article may be pushed, with the portion of the wrapper thus withdrawn, against said tension plate to partially enfold the article in the wrapper, a floating rod arranged to bear down on the wrapper adjacent its clamped end and thus drape the wrapper down over the article during the ascent of said lifter, vertical guides for said rod, lugs on said lifter adapted to raise said rod against said clamp levers to lift said clamping rollers from said stationary rollers during the ascent of said lifter, drag rollers on said lifter above said guide, drag levers adjacent the upper position of said lifter, an adjustable quadrant, and leaf springs carried by said quadrant and urging said drag levers against said drag rollers to exert a drag on the free end of the wrapper as it is drawn between said drag rollers and drag levers, said lifter being provided with guide ,rails and a stationary slotted drag strip, and said tension plate being provided with a carrier slidably mounted in said rails, a bolt on said carrier fitted into the slot of said strip, a friction washer mounted on said bolt above said strip, a nut threaded on said bolt, and a spring interposed between said nut and washer.

7. The combination with a vertically reciprocable lifter having a guide adapted to support a wrapper, of stationary rollers adjacent the upper position of said lifter, clamping levers provided with clamping rollers coacting with said stationary rollers to clamp the end of a wrapper projecting from said guide, whereby the wrapper is partially withdrawn from said guide during the descent of said lifter so that an article may be pushed into the portion of the wrapper withdrawn and onto said lifter to partially enfold the article in the wrapper, a floating rod arranged to bear down against the clamped end of the wrapper during the ascent of said lifter, vertical guides for said rod, lugs on said lifter adapted to raise said rod against said clamping levers to lift said clamping rollers from the wrapper during the ascent of said lifter, drag rollers on said lifter, drag levers adjacent the upper position of said lifter, an adjustable quadrant, and leaf springs carried by said quadrant urging said drag levers against said drag rollers to exert a drag on the free end of the wrapper as it is drawn between said drag rollers and levers.

8. The combination with a lifter adapted to receive an article and raise it to a higher level, a guide on said lifter adapted to support a wrapper, stationary rollers, levers provided with clamping rollers coacting with said stationary rollers to clamp the end of a wrapper projecting from said guide, a floating rod arranged to bear down on the wrapper adjacent its clamped end during the ascent of said lifter, guides for said rod, and lugs on said lifter adapted to engage and raise said rod against said levers to lift said clamping rollers from the wrapper during the ascent-of said lifter.

9. The combination with a lifter adapted to receive an article and raise it to a higher level, a guide on said lifter adapted to support a wrapper, stationary rollers, levers provided with clamping rollers coacting with said stationary rollers to clamp the end of a wrapper projecting from said guide, a floating rod arranged to bear down on the wrapper adjacent its clamped end, and guides for said rod.

10. The combination with a lifter adapted to receive an article and raise it to a higher level, a guide on said lifter adapted to support a wrapper, stationary rollers, levers provided with clamping rollers coacting with said stationary rollers to clamp the end of a wrapper projecting from said guide, a floating rod arranged to bear down on the wrapper adjacent its clamped end, vertical guides for said rod, lugs on said lifter adapted to engage and raise said rod against said levers to lift the clamping rollers from the wrapper during the ascent of said lifter, a reel shaft adapted to support a reel of wrapping material, a support for said shaft, a pair of intermittently operating feed rollers coacting to draw the web of wrapping material off said reel and feed it through said guide between said stationary and clamping rollers while the latter are lifted, a torsion brake on said shaft opposing the rotation thereof in the direction of web feed, and operative to rotate said shaft in the opposite direction after cessation of the web feed and thereby recover any slack in the web caused by the inertia of the reel, and a knife for severing a wrapper from the web.

11. The combination with a lifter adapted to receive an article and raise it to a higher level, a guide on said lifter adapted to support a wrapper, stationary rollers, levers provided with clamping rollers coacting with said stationary rollers to clamp the end of a wrapper projecting from said guide, a floating rod arranged to bear down on the wrapper adjacent its clamped end, vertical guides for said rod, lugs on said lifter adapted to engage and raise said rod against said levers to lift the clamping rollers from the wrapper during the ascent of said lifter, a reel shaft adapted to support a reel of wrapping material, a

operating feed rollers coacting to draw the web of wrapping material ofi said reel and feed it support for said shaft, a pair of intermittently a,1ss,sos

through said guide between said stationary and clamping rollers while the latter are lifted, a torsion brake on said shaft opposing the rotation thereof in the direction of web feed, and operative to rotate said shaft in the opposite direction after cessation of the web feed and thereby recover any slack in the web caused by the inertia of the reel, and a knife for severing a wrapper from the web, said brake including a clamp having hinged jaws, a screw threaded into said jaws and provided with a head, a coil spring interposed between one of said jaws and the head of the screw, a stationary stud, and a leaf spring carried by the other of said jaws and abutting said stud.

12. The combination with an article lifter, of a tension plate on said lifter, said lifter being provided with guide rails and a stationary slotted drag strip, and said tension plate being provided with a carrier slidably mounted in said rails, a bolt on said carrier fitted into the slot of said strip, a friction washer mounted on said bolt 'and bearing against one side of said strip, a nut mounted for free vertical movement by gravity' along the path of said lifter, and means for moving said rod intermittently into position to be engaged with each wrapper section in turn.

14. In a wrapping machine, the combination with an article lifter, of means coacting with said lifter to drape a wrapper about the article, including a rod positioned alongside said lifter to lay the wrapper alongside of the article, said rod being mounted for free vertical movement along the path of said lifter, and means on the lifter for imparting movement to the rod.

15. The combination with a lifter adapted to receive an article and raise it to a higher level, of means for draping a wrapper over said article including mechanism for clamping one. end of said wrapper, and a floating rod arranged to rest by gravity on the wrapper adjacent its clamped end to yieldingly hold the paper down adjacent one side of the article being lifted, and guides for guiding the same in a path extending along the path of movement of the article on the lifter.

16. In a wrapping machine, the combination with means for clamping a wrapper sheet near one edge, of an article lifter for lifting an article to be wrapped into said sheet, a floating element resting on the wrapper between the article and said clamp for carrying the wrapper down along the adjacent side of the wrapper as the article is lifted alongside the same.

17. In a wrapping machine, the combination with means for clamping a wrapper sheet near one edge, of an article lifter for lifting an article to be wrapped into said sheet, a floating rod resting on the wrapper between the article and said clamp for carrying the wrapper down along the adjacent side of the wrapper as the article is lifted alongside the same, and means actuated by the lifter table for lifting and lowering said rod.

18. In a wrapping machine, the combination with means for clamping a wrapper sheet near one edge, of an article lifter for lifting an article to be wrapped into said sheet, a floating rod resting on the wrapper between the article and said clamp for carrying the wrapper down along the adjacent side of the wrapper as the article is lifted alongside the same, and mechanism actuated by said rod for operating said clamping means.

19. In a wrapping machine, the combination with an article lifter, of means coacting with said lifter to drape a wrapper about the article, a roller coacting with said lifter to lay the wrapper along one side of the article, said roller being mounted for free vertical movement, means on said lifter for imparting movement to said roller, said draping means including a clamp for clamping one edge of said wrapper said clampbeing actuated by movement of said lifter table.

20. In a wrapping machine, the combination with an article lifter, a pair of relatively adjustable side plates traveling with said lifter for guidin ing the articles on said lifter, of a stationary articleway overlying said lifter also having a pair of relatively adjustable side plates for engaging the articles, and connections between the plates on said articleway and said lifter side plates for adjusting the distance between one pair of plates as a result of a similar adjustment of the other pair of plates.

21. In a wrapping machine, the combination with an article lifter, a pair of relatively adjustable side plates traveling with said lifter for guiding the articles on said lifter, of a stationary articleway overlying said lifter also having a pair of relatively adjustable side plates for engaging the articles, and connections between the plates.

on said articleway and said lifter side plates for adjusting the distance between one pair of plates as a result of a similar adjustment of the other pair of plates, said connections comprising vertical guides secured to one of said pairs of plates,.

and slides engaging said guides secured to the other pair.

22. In a; wrapping machine, the combination with a pair of clamp rollers, means for feeding wrapping material in a position to be clamped by said rollers, mechanism for pushing an article into the clamped wrapping material to be enwrapped by the same, and a brake on one of said clamp rollers controlling the tension required to pull the wrapping material through rollers.

23. In a wrapping machine, the combination with a clamp including a clamproller, means for feeding wrapping material in a position to be clamped by said roller, mechanism for pushing an article into the clamped wrapping material to be enwrapped by the same, and means on said clamp roller controlling the tension required to pull the wrapping material through the clamp, said means comprising a frictional brake, and means for adjusting the brake pressure of said brake.

24. In a wrapping machine, the combination with a lifter table, of means for feeding articles onto said table, a backing plate against which said articles are fed having a yielding movement in response to the feeding movement of said article, said backing plate tending normally to exert an opposing resistance effective in a sense directly opposite to said feeding movement, and adjustable frictional means resisting movement of said plate, a wrapper guideway on said lifter table, and paper feeding means coacting with said guide to spread a wrapper in position to be gripped between said plate and article.

25. In a wrapping machine, the combination with a lifter table, of means for feeding articles onto said table, a backing plate having a roughened surface against which said articles are fed and having a yielding movement in response to.

the feeding movement of said article, and frictional means for varying the resistance of said plate to said movement, said means comprising a friction brake, and devices for varying the braking effect thereof.

26. In a wrapping machine, the combination with a lifter table, of a movable back tension plate on said lifter table, means for'feeding an article to be wrapped against said plate, paper feeding means for feeding a wrapper between said article and said plate to be clamped between the article and the plate and a series of serrations on said plate to prevent slippage between said article and said plate during subsequent wrapping operations whereby a uniform lap is obtained.

27. In a wrapping machine, the combination with a lifter table, of a movable back tension plate on said lifter table, means for feeding an article to be wrapped against said plate, paper feeding means for feeding a wrapper between said article and said plate to be clamped between the article and the plate and a series of serrations on said plate to prevent slippage between said article and said plate during subsequent wrapping operations whereby a uniform lap is obtained, said serrations taking form of a series of ribs.

28. In a wrapping machine, the combination with a substantially horizontal articleway, of a lifter table movable to and from alignment with said way at one end thereof, means coacting with said lifter-table to associate an article and a wrapper, with the wrapper extending about the article with a projecting edge portion thereof hanging below the article, when the lifter is in alignment with said way, means for pushing the article from said lifter onto said way whereby the adjacent end surface of the way folds the hang ing wrapper end under the article, and means for exerting a drag of various intensities on and thereby varying the tension with which said hanging wrapper portion is drawn about the'article, said last-named means including a swinging apron at and below said end of the articleway, and a co-operating friction roller mounted on the lifter below the edge of said lifter across which the loaf is transferred to the articleway, and means to set said apron at will in various angular positions relatively to said friction roller.

29. In a wrapping machine, the combination with a substantially horizontal articleway, of a lifter table movable to and from alignment with said way at one end thereof, means coacting with said lifter table to associate an article and a wrapper, with the wrapper extending about the article with a projecting edge portion thereof hanging vertically below the article, when the lifter is in alignment with said way, means for pushing the article from said lifter onto said way whereby the adjacent end surface of the way folds the hanging wrapper end under the article, means for varying the tension with which said hanging wrapper portion is drawn about the article comprising a coacting presser pressing said hanging wrapper portion against said surface.

30. In a wrapping machine, the combination with a substantially horizontal articleway, of a lifter table movable to and from alignment with said way at one end thereof, means coacting with said lifter table to associate an article and a hanging wrapper portion against said surface,

and means varying the pressure between said plate and said presser.

31. In a wrapping machine, the combination with a substantially horizontal articleway, of alifter table movable to and from alignment with said way, at one end thereof, means coacting with said lifter table to associate an article and a wrapper therewith with the wrapper extending about the article with a projecting edge portion thereof hanging vertically below-the article, when the lifter is in alignment with said way, means for moving the article from said lifter onto said way whereby the adjacent edge of the way folds the hanging wrapper end under the article, and means for varying the tension with which said hanging wrapper portion is drawn about the article comprising a plate adjacentv said edge and a coacting roller gripping said hanging wrapper portion, and a spring urging said presser and plate together.

32. In a wrapping machine, the combination with a substantially horizontal articleway, of a lifter table movable to and from alignment with said way at one end thereof, means coacting with said lifter table to associate an article and a wrapper therewith with one end of the wrapper under the article and with the wrapper extending about the article with the other end portion thereof hanging vertically below the article, when the lifter is in alignment with said way, means for pushing the article from said lifter onto said way whereby the adjacent end surface of the way folds the hanging wrapper end under the article to lap the first mentioned end, means for exerting tension on the wrapper end to hold the same snugly about the article, and a heater adjacent said articleway end surface for tacking together the overlapped wrapper portions under the article while the wrapper end is still under tension.

33. In a wrapping machine, the combination with a lifter table, of means for feeding articles onto said table, a backing plate against which said articles are fed and having a yielding movement in response to the feeding movement of said article, frictional means for producing a drag on the movement of said plate.

34. In a wrapping machine, the combination with a lifter table, of means for feeding articles onto said table, a backing plate against which said articles are fed and having a yielding movement in response to the feeding movement of said article, frictional means for producing a drag on the movement of said plate, and devices for regulating the amount of drag produced by said frictional means.

35. The combination with an article lifter, of a tension plate on said lifter, said lifter being provided with guide rails and a stationary slotted drag slip, and said tension plate being provided with a carrier slidably mounted in said rails, an extension carrier fitted into the slot of said strip, and a friction shoe mounted on said extension and bearing against one side of said strip, and a spring pressing said shoe against said strin.

36. In a wrapping machine, the combination with means for associating wrapping material with an article to be wrapped, of means for feeding said material into the range of action of said associating means, including a roll in feeding engagement with said material, mechanism including a friction clutch operating periodically to intermittently drive said roll, and brake means actuated by said mechanism preventing overrunning of the roll.

3'1. In a wrapping machine, the combination with means for associating wrapping material with an article to be wrapped, of means for feeding said material into the range of action of said associating means, including a roll in feeding engagement with said material, mechanism operating periodically to intermittently drive said roll, and brake means actuated by said mechanism preventing over-running of the roll, said mechanism including a part having a to and fro motion operating in one direction to drive the roll and a connection between said part and said brake to operate the brake near the end of the driving motion.

38. In a bread loaf wrapping machine, the combination with mechanism for wrapping the loaves, a loaf feed for feeding loaves into said mechanism including an endless conveyor carrying loaf engaging flights and a crumb tray under parts of said mechanism from which crumbs fall, positioned adjacent the path of return movement of said flights to be swept by the flights.

39. In a bread handling machine, the combination with mechanism for performing operations on the loaves of a loaf feed for feeding loaves into-said mechanism, including a loaf pusher, a carrier for said pusher imparting to said pusher an operating motion to said pusher along one path and a return motion along another path, and a crumb tray under parts of said mechanism from which crumbs fall positioned adjacent the path of return movement of said pusher to be swept by the pusher.

40. In a wrapping machine, the combination with an article lifter having vertical to and fro motion, of means for associating a wrapper with an article with the wrapper draped over the top of the article, and with one end of the wrapper held between the article and a lifter part, a clamp relative to which the lifter moves, gripping the wrapper near its other edge, and a floating rod resting by gravity on the wrapper between said article and said clamp to drape the wrapper down, alongside said lifter as the lifter rises, under uniform wrapping tension depending on the weight of the rod, said clamp having means arranged to be engaged by the upper side of the rod as the rod is lifted by the pull on the wrapper .of the lifter and article whereby the clamp is held open by the pull on the paper and is permitted to close again when said pull is relieved.

41. In a wrapping machine, the combination with an article lifter having vertical to and fro motion, of means for associating a wrapper with an article with the wrapper draped over the top of the article, and with one end of the'wrapper held between the article and a lifter part, a clamp relative to which the lifter moves, gripping the wrapper near its other edge, and a floating rod resting by gravity on the wrapper between said article and said clamp to drape the wrapper down, alongside said lifter as the lifter rises, under uniform tension depending on the weight of the rod, said clamp having means arranged to be engaged by the upper side of the rod as the rod is lifted by the pull on the wrapper of the lifter and article whereby the clamp is held open by the pull on the paper and is permitted to close again when said pull is relieved, and means actuated by said lifter for positively holding open said clamp when the lifter reaches its uppermost position.

42. In a wrapping machine, the combination with an articleway, of paper feeding means coacting with said lifter to drape a wrapper about the article, a rod coacting with said lifter to lay the wrapper along one side of the article, guides for said rod in which said rod is mounted for free vertical movement along the path of the lifter movement, and means coacting with said guide for adjusting the lower limit of movement oi said rod.

43. In a wrapping machine, the combination with an articleway, of paper feeding means coacting with said lifter to drape a wrapper about the article, a rod coacting with said lifter to lay the wrapper along one side of the article, guides for said rod in which said rod is mounted for free vertical movement along the path of the lifter movement, means coacting with said guide for adjusting the lower limit of movement of said rod, and means for tucking in the rear end flaps on said article while the lap roller is in substantially its lowermost position.

44. In a wrapping machine, the combination with an article lifter having an up and down movement and carrying a wrapper receiving channel, of a feed for feeding a wrapper into said channel with a portion of the wrapper projecting from the channel, means acting on the projecting portion of the wrapper and coacting with the lifter during movement thereof to spread the wrapper, means for pushing an article into said wrapper and on to said lifter while'the lifter is in its lower position with a portion of the wrapper extending over the top of said article and to one side thereof, and a floating element resting by'gravity on the portion of the wrapper extending to one side to drape the wrapper down along the adjacentside of said article.

45. In a wrapping machine, the combination with an article lifter having an up and down movement and carrying a wrapper receiving channel, of a feed for feeding a wrapper into said channel with a portion of the wrapper projecting from the channel, means acting on the projecting portion of the wrapper and coacting with the lifter during movement thereof to spread the wrapper, means for pushing an article into said wrapper and on to said lifter while the lifter-is in its lower position with a portion of the wrapper extending over the top of said article and to one side thereof, a floating element resting by gravity on the portion of the wrapper extending to one side to drape the wrapper down along the adjacent side of said article, and devices gripping said extending portion of said wrapper on the other side of said element from the article during the upward movement of the lifter.

46. In a wrapping machine, the combination with reciprocating means for yieldingly gripping one end of a length of wrapping material, of I.

mechanism for feeding wrapping material into position to be gripped by said means, a member for pushing an article into the gripped wrapping material to partially enwrap the article therein, whereby the wrapping material will be pulled 7| from said means and thereby tensioned, and a device for adjusting said means to vary the tension with which the wrapping material is pulled from the same.

47. In a wrapping machine, the combination with a vertically movable article lifter having a guide through which wrapping material may be fed, of means for feeding wrapping material through said guide, a device for yieldingly gripping the leading end of the wrapping material fed through said guide to draw the wrapping material from the guide during the downward movement of the lifter, a member for advancing an article into the wrapping material and on to the lifter when the latter reaches its lower position, said wrapper material feeding means beingadjmtabletofeedvariouslengthsofwrapping material to encompass articles of different 48. In a wrapping machine, the combination with a table of a backing plate yieldingly mounted on said table and movable bodily under frictional restraint to yieldingly oppose the movement of an article on to the same, and a device for varying the frictional restraint of said plate.

LESTER FERENCI. 

